11 Cheap and Easy Ways to Tame Your Fatty Liver

Fatty liver, or hepatic steatosis, is a condition in which excess fat accumulates in the liver. It can be caused by many things, including obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and excessive alcohol consumption. There are several warning signs that you may have fatty liver and should seek medical advice.

One of the signs is unexplained weight loss. Fatty liver can lead to an impaired ability to absorb nutrients, which in turn can result in inadvertent weight loss.

Another sign is abdominal pain and tenderness. Fatty liver can cause inflammation of the organ, resulting in pain or discomfort around the abdomen area. If you have belly-fat, that could be a sign that you are retaining too much visceral fat, that can lead to fatty-liver.

Finally, elevated levels of liver enzymes in a blood test can be indicative of fatty liver. If your doctor runs tests and finds that certain liver enzymes are elevated, this could be a sign of the condition.

The liver plays an essential role in keeping our bodies healthy by eliminating toxins, synthesizing proteins, and producing bile. When it is not functioning optimally, the effects can be felt throughout the body. Fortunately, there are ways to support your liver health naturally. Here are 10 ways to detoxify the liver:

1. Increase your intake of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eating more fiber helps the body remove toxins and reduce insulin levels, which can help to reduce visceral fat accumulation around the liver.

2. Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that can help your liver detoxify.

3. Drink green tea (put in a sprig of fresh mint and pour over ice) Green tea contains catechins, which help to reduce fat accumulation in the liver and protect it from oxidative damage.

4. Drink dandelion root tea or take a supplement. (Very refreshing iced). Dandelion root contains polyphenols that have been shown to support liver health.

5. Take a probiotic supplement (this is the one we take at BMH) or eat fermented foods such as kimchi and sauerkraut. Fermented foods contain beneficial bacteria that can help your body detoxify and reduce inflammation. BMH can also recommend this liver detox supplement, that we take when we are feeling that our liver may be getting a little too fatty.

6. Make sure you get enough sleep every night. Sleep helps the body repair itself and can help reduce inflammation in the body. We love to take every opportunity we can to recommend Olly sleep gummies with melatonin and botanicals. Many people are sensitive to melatonin, but it's up to your system.

7. Exercise regularly to promote healthy circulation and encourage the body to detoxify naturally. When the weather is too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, or just too people-y that day, we pull our STEP out from under the bed and turn on some music, or watch mindless tv.

8. Eat more garlic, onions, and leeks as these contain sulfur-containing compounds that can help support liver health.

9. Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins from the body. We love to take any chance we can to recommend our favorite all glass/bamboo pitcher with a pH balance filter to make your water more alkaline. Pitcher of Life!

10. Number one recommendation from BMH: Reduce, or preferably, completely eliminate your intake of processed and sugary foods as these can contribute to toxic overload in the liver and lead to fatty liver, and perhaps even more serious conditions.

11. Intermittent fasting: However, a longer fasting time (starting after dinner) to breakfast (at least 12-hours) also gives your body time to digest and repair, without constantly having to digest food. This practice is called intermittent fasting. Bee Max Healthy tries to go from 6pm to 9am the next day. Here are other alternatives for intermittent fasting from the Mayo Clinic.

By following these tips, you can help keep your liver healthy and functioning optimally. Take care of your liver and it will take care of you!

As always, Bee Max Healthy encourages you to consult with your medical professional before embarking on radical diet changes, supplementation, or increased exercise.